Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Dahlia, NM

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has emerged as a valuable method for identifying substance use. Hair captures a prolonged record of alcohol and drug markers that are embedded in the strands during hair growth. When sourced from close to the scalp, it can reveal drug or alcohol use within a time frame of up to roughly three months. Hair is easy to obtain, hard to tamper with, and simple to transport.

A 1.5-inch segment of around 200 hair strands (approximately the thickness of a #2 pencil) closest to the scalp is required to yield 100mg, which is the optimal amount needed for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional markers, or tests exceeding 10 panels, a specimen weighing 150mg is preferred. We advise using a jeweler’s scale to measure the sample. If scalp hair is absent, an equivalent quantity of body hair can be used. Here, head hair refers specifically to scalp hair, while body hair includes all other types (e.g., facial, axillary).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of drug test samples encompasses four primary steps: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning involves logging a sample into the lab’s database. This process ensures that the sample is properly sealed and dispatched, assigns a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completes any missing information not covered by an electronic chain of custody.

Screening provides an early evaluation for drug presence. While it efficiently excludes drug use for many samples, any positive results at this stage need further verification for legal purposes. Samples presumed positive from Screening necessitate another round of confirmation.

When a sample tests presumptive positive during Screening, additional hair is extracted from the original sample for further analysis in the Extraction stage. Here, drugs are extracted at concentrations lower than other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), contributing to the complexity of hair drug screening.

Confirmation of positive results is executed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS techniques. Presumed positive samples are cleaned prior to confirmation. This comprehensive process, from Accessioning through to Confirmation, adheres to both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair standards and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation requirements.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair tests trace drug use for as long as 90 days, in contrast to urine tests with shorter detection durations.
• Hard to manipulate: It’s extremely challenging to falsify a hair drug test, resulting in more reliable outcomes.
• Chronological insight: It delivers an overview of substance use over time, rather than just recent consumption.

Limitations:

• Inability to detect recent consumption: Drugs typically become traceable in hair after about 5-7 days.
• Expense: Hair drug testing usually incurs higher costs than alternative testing techniques.
• Outcome variability: Variables like hair color and personal hair growth rates can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Although commonly known as "hair follicle tests", the test actually examines the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the skin.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

In Dahlia, NM, hair follicle testing presents clear advantages over traditional urine tests. Its superior detection accuracy offers enhanced reliability, making it difficult for individuals to evade detection. Unlike urine tests, hair testing covers a broader time frame.

Employers seeking reliable screening methods find hair testing invaluable, ensuring a drug-free workspace by identifying long-term use that urine tests might overlook.

Extended Detection Window

One outstanding feature of hair follicle testing in Dahlia, NM is its extended detection window. This method identifies drug use over an impressive 90-day period, offering employers a thorough understanding of an individual's drug use history.

This prolonged detection window ensures a more comprehensive review compared to other methods, aiding in significant hiring and management decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle testing in Dahlia, NM provides a tamper-resistant method for drug detection, reducing the chance of sample manipulation. The process minimizes the possibility of adulteration, enhancing the reliability of results.

Employers can rely on the authenticity of hair test results, benefiting from a screening process that is both dependable and transparent.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Our nationwide testing locations and convenient local centers in Dahlia, NM, make hair follicle testing accessible and stress-free. Wherever you are, a testing service is nearby, delivering quick and easy access to necessary assessments.

These centers ensure minimal disruption to your schedule, assisting employers and individuals alike with a hassle-free service experience.

Simple, Confidential Process

The process for hair follicle testing in Dahlia, NM is simple and confidential. Ordering tests and receiving results are straightforward, aiming to alleviate concerns about privacy and convenience.

Users can be assured of a discreet process throughout, from test administration to result reporting, maintaining confidentiality at all stages.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Our competitive pricing in Dahlia, NM reinforces our commitment to providing affordable screening solutions. Additionally, our fast turnaround ensures businesses receive timely results, combining value and efficiency.

Affordable pricing models make it feasible for companies of all sizes to partake in hair testing, ensuring compliance without exceeding budget limitations.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Hair follicle drug tests in Dahlia, NM are recognized for their fast, accurate, and reliable results. When precision in assessing substance use is paramount, hair analysis stands out. The method provides a higher accuracy level compared to urine tests, catching even sporadic uses.

Speed is equally impressive, with results often available quickly, enabling decision-makers to act decisively. This swift processing is crucial for maintaining workplace productivity and safety standards.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

In Dahlia, NM, hair follicle testing aids in ensuring compliance with employee drug-free policies, offering peace of mind to businesses. It significantly lowers the risks of legal issues arising from workplace substance abuse.

Adopting this testing methodology enhances safety and maintains a secure working environment, demonstrating a proactive approach towards employee well-being.

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What's New In Hair Follicle Drug Testing according to the Hair Drug Testing Experts

With its multidisciplinary nature, hair testing brings together researchers, scientists, and experts from various domains to develop innovative techniques, explore new methodologies, and address emerging concerns, responding to the ever-evolving challenges of drug abuse, therapeutic drug monitoring, and environmental exposures to pollutants.

The joint meeting of the Society of Hair Testing (SoHT) and the Italian Group of Forensic Toxicologists (GTFI) was organized in Verona, June 8–10, 2022, and hosted by the Legal Medicine team of the Verona University Hospital, directed by Franco Tagliaro together with Federica Bortolotti and Rossella Gottardo.

It served as a prominent platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration, facilitating groundbreaking advancements in hair testing and analysis. In this special issue of Drug Testing and Analysis, we aim to showcase the remarkable manuscripts presented at this significant event, shedding light on the latest research and highlighting the future directions in this field.

Novel Analytical Techniques: The Verona meeting witnessed the unveiling of cutting-edge analytical techniques, offering enhanced sensitivity, selectivity, and accuracy for drug testing. Remarkable advancements in sample preparation, detection, and identification of drug compounds have been presented. The manuscripts in this section presented novel approaches, such as multianalyte methods and on-line preparation which can enable rapid analysis and improve thorough forensic investigations.

Biomarkers and Pharmacokinetics: The identification and validation of reliable biomarkers and pharmacokinetic studies are fundamental aspects of drug testing and analysis. The impact of hair treatments on the oxidation/decomposition of drugs in hair was also explored, as the long-term fate of drugs incorporated in the keratin matrix. Furthermore, the SoHT meeting in Verona featured research on the identification and quantification of alcohol abuse biomarkers, their stability, and their correlation with exposure and other biomarkers.

Forensic Applications and Interpretation: One of the vital objectives of hair testing is its application in forensic investigations and legal proceedings. The SoHT meeting in Verona emphasized the significance of rigorous interpretation of analytical results and the need for standardized protocols. Manuscripts in this section present advancements in forensic toxicology, and have explored the challenges posed by emerging designer drugs and strategies to combat their proliferation. The pitfalls encountered when the exogenous/endogenous nature of a substance is questioned were presented and discussed. The special issue presents also manuscripts that delve into the ethical implications of drug testing in drug facilitated sexual assaults.

Clinical Applications of hair testing are witnessed by the insight on environmental tobacco smoke exposure, assessed by hair analysis in a population of students and the study of in utero-exposure to drugs of abuse through neonatal hair analysis. Exposure to drugs was also important in cases of child abuse/neglect, when the clinical purpose of hair testing merge with its forensic applications.

The legal framework surrounding hair testing and the achievement of guidelines to ensure fairness, accuracy, and confidentiality in drug testing practices have also been discussed,and the SoHT consensus on general hair testing and testing for drugs of abuse was presented at the meeting and published as a Letter to the Editor.

In conclusion, the special issue of Drug Testing and Analysis, featuring manuscripts from the SoHT–GTFI meeting in Verona 2022, reflects the remarkable advancements achieved in this field. The manuscripts provide valuable insights into novel analytical techniques, biomarkers, pharmacokinetics, forensic applications, and ethical considerations. As we embrace these advancements, we pave the way for a safer, healthier society, where drug testing and analysis serve as powerful tools in protecting public health and maintaining integrity in various sectors. The research presented in this special issue will undoubtedly shape the future of drug testing and analysis, fostering collaboration and inspiring further innovation in this crucial area of scientific inquiry.

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